Dual-ended apparatus for cutting openings in lined conduits

Abstract

A motor with a single driven shaft and double-ended collet is attached to a movable work unit for cutting laterals in a lined pipeline. The motor is preferably operated by an operator at a remote location. The motor attaches to the front arm of the extension ram of a typical remote work unit, which can index at least 180° relative to the unit. The work unit is positioned in an existing conduit lined with a synthetic liner at the location of a lateral and a cutter bit at one end of the shaft is used to cut an aperture through the liner. The cutter bit is retracted radially without displacing the work unit, and the motor is indexed circumferentially 180° relative to the extension ram. This positions the finishing bit at the other end of the shaft to trim the edges of the aperture, and the finishing bit is then retracted radially. The underground work unit can then be withdrawn from the pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for cutting openings in the lining of an existing pipeline from the inside of said pipeline, said apparatus adapted to be mounted to a unit that is movable within said pipeline, said apparatus comprising: a motor having a shaft with first and second ends, said motor being rotatably mounted to said movable unit;   a cutting means for cutting an opening in the lining mounted to the first end of said shaft;   a finishing means for smoothing the edge of the opening cut by said cutting means mounted to the second end of said shaft; and   indexing means for selectively rotating said motor relative to said movable unit;   whereby, after said cutting means cuts an opening in said lining, said indexing means selectively rotates said motor to position said finishing means in operative position for smoothing the edges of said opening.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising radial displacing means for selectively displacing said motor in a radial direction towards and away from said lining, whereby, after said aperture is cut in said lining, said cutting means can be retracted away from said lining and, after said motor is rotated 180°, said finishing means can be moved towards said lining.   
     
     
       3. The cutting apparatus of claim 2, wherein said motor comprises a fluid-driven motor. 
     
     
       4. The cutting apparatus of claim 3, wherein said motor comprises a pneumatically-operated motor. 
     
     
       5. The cutting apparatus of claim 2, wherein said motor comprises a hydraulically-operated motor. 
     
     
       6. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motor comprises an electrically-operated motor. 
     
     
       7. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutting means comprises a router bit. 
     
     
       8. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said finishing means comprises a circular brush with radially-oriented bristles. 
     
     
       9. The cutting apparatus of claim 8, wherein said brush bristles are formed of wire. 
     
     
       10. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indexing means for comprises an arm extending forward from said movable unit in the longitudinal direction of said pipeline, wherein said arm is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis within said unit. 
     
     
       11. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means to angularly position said motor in relation to said movable unit such that the positioning of said motor at a particular angle results in an aperture being cut at the same angle. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for cutting apertures in the lining of an existing conduit from the inside of the conduit, comprising: a movable unit selectively displaceable along the axis of the conduit and controlled at a location remote from the location where said aperture is to be cut;   a cutter apparatus rotatably mounted to one end of said moveable unit, including a motor having one rotating shaft with a first end and an opposite second end and means for mounting operative means on both ends of said shaft;   cutter means for cutting an opening in said lining mounted in the mounting means at said first end of said motor shaft;   a finishing means for smoothing the opening cut in said liner mounted in the mounting means at said second end of said motor shaft;   said motor mounted on said movable unit being selectively displaceable in at least a radial direction to move said cutter means in an operative position inside said conduit towards the lining to cut an opening in said lining and to retract, said motor being selectively rotatable at least 180 degrees circumferentially to position the finishing means in an operative position to move radially towards and away from the opening in the lining to smooth the opening cut by the cutter means.   
     
     
       13. The cutting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said movable unit is in communication with an operator at a remote location outside said conduit. 
     
     
       14. The cutting apparatus of claim 13, wherein said remote communication takes place via a control line extending through said conduit. 
     
     
       15. The cutting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said movable unit comprises means for rotatably mounting said cutter apparatus to said movable unit such that said motor is rotatable at least 180° relative to the inside circumference of said conduit whereby said cutter means and said finishing means can switch positions. 
     
     
       16. The cutting apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for rotatably mounting comprises a cylindrical arm projecting from said one end of said movable unit, said cutter apparatus mounted at a distal end of said arm, wherein said cylindrical arm is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis within said movable unit. 
     
     
       17. The cutting apparatus of claim 16, wherein said cylindrical arm is rotatable at least 180° within said movable unit. 
     
     
       18. The cutting apparatus of claim 16, wherein said movable unit further comprises a motor and wherein rotation of said cylindrical arm and said cutter apparatus is controlled by said motor. 
     
     
       19. The cutting apparatus of claim 16, wherein said movable unit comprises means for moving said cutter apparatus longitudinally within said conduit relative to said movable unit. 
     
     
       20. The cutting apparatus of claim 19, wherein said means for moving said cutter apparatus longitudinally comprises said cylindrical arm, wherein said cylindrical arm is movable along its own longitudinal axis within said movable unit. 
     
     
       21. The cutting apparatus of claim 20, wherein said movable unit further comprises a motor and wherein longitudinal motion of said cylindrical arm and said cutter apparatus is controlled by said motor. 
     
     
       22. The cutting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said motor comprises a fluid-driven motor. 
     
     
       23. The cutting apparatus of claim 22, wherein said motor is a pneumatically-operated motor. 
     
     
       24. The cutting apparatus of claim 22, wherein said motor is a hydraulically-operated motor. 
     
     
       25. The cutting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said motor is an electrically-operated motor. 
     
     
       26. The cutting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said cutter means is a router bit. 
     
     
       27. The cutting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said finishing means comprises circular brush with radially-oriented bristles. 
     
     
       28. The cutting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said cutter apparatus further comprises means to angularly position said motor in relation to said movable unit such that the positioning of said motor at a particular angle results in the opening being cut at the same angle relative to said conduit. 
     
     
       29. A method for cutting openings in the lining of an existing conduit from the inside of said conduit, using a movable unit being selectively displaceable along the axis of the conduit and having a cutter apparatus rotatably mounted to one end of said unit, said cutter apparatus having one rotating shaft with a cutting means mounted at a first end of said shaft and a finishing means mounted at a second end of said shaft, said method comprising: cutting an opening in said lining using said cutting means mounted at said first end of said motor shaft;   selectively rotating said motor at least 180 degrees circumferentially to position the finishing means in an operative position; and   smoothing the opening cut in said liner using said finishing means mounted at said second end of said motor shaft.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein said motor mounted on said movable unit is selectively displaceable in at least a radial direction to move said cutting means or said finishing means inside said conduit towards the lining and to retract away from the lining, further comprising: selectively moving said cutting means into an operative position radially towards the lining before cutting an opening in said lining;   selectively retracting said cutting means radially away from the lining after cutting an opening in said lining;   after selectively rotating said motor at least 180 degrees circumferentially, selectively moving said finishing means radially towards from the opening in the lining into an operative position before smoothing the opening cut by the cutting means.   
     
     
       31. The method of claim 29, further comprising selectively displacing said movable unit along the axis of the conduit away from said opening.